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Struggling With Allergic Reactions? Four Unusual Things That Can Cause An Outbreak

Over half of the population of the United States has tested positive for a reaction to at least one allergen. With so many potential irritants and allergens out there, it can be baffling to figure out what's causing your reaction. Here are a few unusual things that you may be surprised to know can trigger an allergic reaction.

Leather Shoes

If you have an allergy to the chemicals used in leather tanning, you might find a rash on your feet that resembles poison ivy exposure after wearing the shoes. Your doctor will conduct a contact test with the leather by directly exposing your skin to it so that he or she can observe the reaction for a formal diagnosis. Then, the best way to limit the symptoms is by wearing socks at all times or by choosing shoes with no leather. You can even treat the rash with antihistamine cream to help the rash clear up.

Water

It's strange to think that something your body contains so much of can actually cause an allergic reaction, but water allergies real. Some people suffer from an allergy that's called aquagenic urticaria. It causes hives from exposure to water. It's a rare allergic reaction, but the itching and rash typically subside shortly after the exposure ends. You can take antihistamines to ease these symptoms, too.

Sunlight

For all of its reported health benefits, the sun can also be hazardous to people who have solar urticaria. Instead of reaping the benefits of the vitamin D exposure, these individuals will actually develop hives from exposure to the sunlight. In most situations, the rash will develop shortly after you are exposed to the sunlight, and it will fade within a few minutes of being out of the sun. Antihistamines can help to reduce some of the symptoms, but will not prevent the reaction from happening.

Pollinated Fruit

For people with intense pollen allergies, pollinated fruit can be a trigger for reactions. This is often referred to as oral allergy syndrome, because the symptoms occur in the mouth when you eat a fruit that's sharing a protein with the pollen that you are allergic to. The allergy causes symptoms such as itching in the mouth and throat as well as swelling in the lips. In most cases, the symptoms will dissipate as soon as you swallow or spit out the fruit.

With so many allergens, it's no surprise that there are some unusual things that can trigger a reaction. If you believe that you may be suffering from an allergic reaction to something, no matter how unlikely you think it could be, talk with an allergy physician to find out for sure.


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